We’ll never turn down a lazy snow day followed by a cozy evening indoors, but if you’re not prepared, the best part of winter — snow — can quickly turn into the worst. While winter weather is notoriously hard to predict, you can get ahead of the blizzard with a bit of careful planning. Prepare for every stage of a winter storm with this safety checklist. Caulk windows and doors. Get ahead of cold weather by fixing major leaks before winter starts. Caulk and weatherstrip windows and doors to keep out drafts and save on energy bills. Trim overgrown branches away from the house. The last thing you want during a storm is for a stray branch to crash through the roof or down a power line. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries. Check batteries at the start of each season, especially in winter when heat and fireplace usage — and chances of power outages — increase. Salt driveway and walkways. Slow snow buildup by evenly sprinkling deicing salt on your driveway, …